Dressing rack for fowls



71 23 Z za ms,

672a rles' March 1931 c. w. WILLIAMS DRESSING RACK FOR FOWLS Filed April 17,

Patented Mar. 17, 1931 PATENT OFFICE CHARLES W. WILLIAMS,

OF ARVADA COLORADO DRESSING RACK FOR FOWLS Application filed April 17, 1929. Serial No. 355,846.

The present invention relates to improvements in supports and has reference more particularly to a rack for use in dressing fowls. I v r 1 One of the important objects of the present invention is to provide a device of the abovementioned character which includes a suspension frame having a cross bar arranged at the upper portion thereof for securing the legs of the fowl spaced apart, means being arranged at the lower portion of the frame whereby the head of the fowl may be held against movement in order to facilitate the plucking of the feathers of the fowl in a 5 quick and easy manner.

A further and important object is to provide a device of the above-mentioned character wherein the lower cross member is adapted for vertical slidable movement on the 0 framein order to accommodate fowls of different sizes.

A further and important object is to provide a dressing rack of the above-mentioned character whereinthe same. is of such construction as to permit the parts to be readily and easily adjusted, the device being further simple in construction, inexpensive, strong and durable and further well ada ted for the purposes for which it is designe Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing.

In the accompanying drawing wherein like reference characters indicate correspondin parts throughout the same;

igure 1 is a side elevation of the device embodying my invention showing the same in use.

Figure 2 isa transverse section taken approximately on the line 2-2 of Figure 1, looking downwardly; and

Figure 3 is a vertical section taken approximately on theline 33 of Figure 1.

In the drawing wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 1 designates generally'the frame of my improved dressing rack, said frame being of substan- 50 tially U-shaped formation and including a end of eac tubular crown portion 2 having the externally threaded downturned end portions 3. Enlarged sockets 5, formed in the upper end of the coupling members 6, are threaded on the lower ends of the portions 3, and threaded in the smaller sockets 7 formed in the lower ends of these coupling members 6 are the elongated tubular rods 8 that constitute the arms of the inverted U-shaped frame. A cap 9 is arranged on the lower end of each tubular rod 8 in a detachable manner.

An eye bolt 10 extends upwardly from the intermediate portion of the crown 2 for suspending the device frornany suitable support (not showng.

A cross ar 11 is arranged transversely with res ect to the frame 1 and the end portions of t e cross bar are formed with suitable openings to accommodate the portions 3, the bottom face of the cross bar being adapted to engage with the upper ends of the couplin s 6 and suitable nuts 12 are threaded on tlBfPOltlOIlS 3 for en agement with the upper ace of the cross bar whereby to securely support the same on the frame against vertical movement as is obvious from the construction shown in Figures 1 and 3 of the drawing.

The cross bar is cut away at its forward edge and formed in the forward edge of the cross bar 11 are the spaced leg-receiving notches 13, the same being arranged in inner and outer airs. For the purpose of securing the legs 0 the fowl in the respective notches, there is provided a pair of vertically swinging latches 14, each being in the form of a flat metallic bar and the outer ends of these latch members are pivotally connected on the cross bar 11 as at 15 and these latch bars are adapted to be disposed against the notched edge of the cross bar. A downwardly ex tending fin 'er 16 is formed on the inner free latch bar for a purpose to be presently described.

A metallic plate 17 has its inner end portion secured to the bottom face of the central portionof the cross bar 11 and the outer end portion of this plate 17 extends beyond the notched forward edge of the cross bar and terminates in the upstanding flange 18 that legs of the fowl will be securely held in the, notched cross bar. If desired,'thedownward ly projecting fingers 16 may be formed with transverse openings to accommodate-"remot able locking pins that will prevent the casual displacement of the fingers from the perforated plate 17. f i

The invention further comprehends the provision of a vertically adjustable unit that is arranged for slidable movement onthe low or end portions of the rods 8 and this unit in' -ii cludes a cross member 19 that is in the form of a tubular rod, the ends thereof being secured within the leg portions of T-shaped fittings 20 while the head portions of these T-shaped fittings slidably receive the rods 8.

A thumb screw 21 is associated with each T-,

shaped fitting 20 whereby to secure a cross rod 19 in any vertically adjusted position.

The caps 9 on the lower ends of the rod will prevent the displacement of the sliding unit from the frame.

-A- neck holding clasp 22 is secured on the intermediate portion of the cross rod 19'and extending downwardly from the intermediate portion of this cross rod is the eye bolt 23 from which may be'su-spended a blood bucket 24 to catch the blood as it drains slowly from neck of the fowl.

' The use of my improved dressing rack is thought to be readily obvious from the construction disclosed and it will be apparent that when the legs of the fowl are clamped in either the inner or outer pair of notches and the neck of the fowl is engaged with the clasp 22, the fowl will be held in a firm osition on the frame so that the feathers o the fowl may be readily lucked.

A device of this 0 aracter will save considerable time and labor and can be used for working upon chickens ducks, and other fowl as well as game. The snnplicity of my device enables the parts to be readily and easily adjusted and the same will at all times be positive and efficientin carrying out the purposes for which it is designed.

' While I have shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, it isto be understood that minor changes in the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to withp out departing from the spirit of the inven-' tion or the scope of theappended claims.

What I claim is: 1. In a suspension device for fowls, a suparranged' transversely across the u bucket suspended from'the intermediate extending portion of the plate being formed with openings, and laterally extending finers formed on the inner ends of the latches for disposition through the respective openings to maintain the latches in a lowered position across the notches in the bar.

2. In a device of the class described, a subr stanti'ally inverted U-shaped. frame, means carried by the crown portion thereof for suspending the frame from a support, a crossbar er portion of the frame andprovided wit mean for receiving and supporting the legs of .a

fowl, an. additional cross bar, means carried ".by'said last-mentioned cross bar for slidable movement. on the lower ends of the arms. of the U-shaped frame, means for securingthe last-mentioned crossbar in' any vertically adjusted position, and neck-engagingmeans carried by the intermediate portion: of the slidable cross bar. 1

3. In a device of the class described, a sub. stantially inverted U-shaped frame, means carried by the crown portion thereof for suspending the frame from a support, across ar arranged transversely across the upp er portion of the frame and provided .with,

means for receiving and supporting the legs of a fowl, an additional cross bar, means carried by said last-mentioned cross barfor slidable movement on the lower ends of the arms of the U-shaped frame,-'meansfor' securing the last-mentioned crossbar in any vertically adjusted position, and neck-engag ing means carried by the intermediate portion of the slidable cross bar, and a blood P tion of the last-mentioned cross bar. In testimony whereof I atfix my signature.

' CHARLES W. WILLIAMS. 

